Friday, September 11, 2009

Don't Worry, Be Happy

You know... joyful, crazy people experience the same emotions as other human beings do. Just in case you were not aware of the fact.

And don't even think that I love and adore Chile any less now -- I would stay here for a year if I could. My Spanish professor makes a good point when she says that when you study abroad, you are not only learning a language, you are learning how to live in the culture. It is such a blessing to be in a country where I get to see, hear, smell or experience something new daily. It is a treasure for my anti-monotonous personality! There are hippies on each corner, goths & punks, gangstas (not in the sense of gangs), wanna-be-Americans, wild little gypsies, & normal Chileans to behold. The micro buses are now nothing to me. I flag down and climb onto the micro, assert I am a student, and wait for them to give me the discount. If they still refuse to do so after I show them my student ID#, I say "Okay, well I would like to get off now. Thank you." I jump to the next one and get my discount.

Oh, and if I go back to that market in Valaparíso I plan on having some words with that vendor. I had talked and bought products from him no more than 60 seconds before the potential theft occurred. He was one of the passive onlookers. Therefore, if he tries to interest me in his particular kiosk again, I plan on getting in close and saying, "I was almost robbed and you did nothing. I do not buy from cowards." Try that on for size bubba.

Watch out world! Love you all. All with time and God's unending faithfulness. Don't worry, be happy. :)